From: guto rhys
Message: 14424
Date: 2002-08-21
Accepted - I should have worded my response more carefully. 'Irish genes' could easily have come from many sources and could well have been from long settled slaves in Scandinavia, Gaelic regions Scotland, Wales or England for example. I am aware how dangerous a field this is and thanks for drawing attention to it.
I have read something about Irish words in Icelandic but I think at most a mere handful were postulated as having Irish origins and these were only suggestions. Not being an expert on genetics I wouldn't risk getting embroiled in a discussion on genes, languages and substrati (correct plural?). The situation of significant phonetic influence with zero lexical borrowing is certainly not unknown - I could name a number of towns in north Wales for example where the situation exists. I won't go any further than that or I will be way out of my depth.
Thanks
Guto